Why do we have faith in FOIAs?

[Protagoras]

I'm always seeing announcements that such and such or so and so is filing a request for information under the "Freedom of Information Act" and everyone seems very happy about it.

But I'm not really sure why this should instill a sense of confidence in any of us. Aren't the facts "found" and "distributed" under the FOIA done so by administration employees? Maybe I don't understand any of the deep protections in place here, but what's preventing Bushco from appointing or persuading those searching thru the files from missing/destroying key pieces of information?

Moreover, why do we assume that the real evil things ever get documented? (ok, arrogance does seem to make the fools in power love themselves enough to document their misdeeds for posterity ala Nixon Tapes).

I guess I'm just naturally skeptical (and quite possibly ignorant of the process) but I'm just having a hard time believing that FOIA really guarantees much beyond them sending me the most papish press clipings and personel documents. Perhaps that means I've lost all faith in any semblance of accountability and honesty at all levels...would be interesting to know if anyone ever sending out "sensitive" info under the FIOA got axed after the fact. Have we had any FOIA scandals? Or has it still got the appearance of legitimacy?

really curious.

Prot

[tinanator]

1. shouldnt

Bush admin has clamped down on FOIA's like never before. Pretty much wasted effort unless you have a long lifespan and relentless tenacity. And an honest government. 2 out of 3 wont get it though.

[bemildred]

2. There was no FOIA before Nixon.

The passage of that act was and is a big win for government accountability.
That the government hates it and obstructs it when it can does not
change that.

[StClone]

3. FOIA Requesters are Charged big $$$ under BushCo

Maniac Monkey has got a new trick. I think Franken (Mike?) had a story on yesterday about $300,000 charged to people requesting a document. Cute no?

[fasttense]

4. FOIA requests only reveal secrets by accident. n/t

[Az]

5. No faith, just joy that there is a bit more information available

Would be wonderful if it was beyond the control of those that wish to hide it. But as imperfect as it is, it is still better than no access. Keep fighting to increase the access and use what we have.

[HamdenRice]

6. Here's how govt bureaucrats think

There is good cause for skepticism, but you kind of have to think about how government bureaucrats work. Suppose you are an archivist/FOIA specialist and a request comes in. You were not the guy who generated the embarassing info in the first place. You don't even know what this is all about. So you pull the relevant files. Then someone else from a different department, maybe substantively involved in the issue reviews it and starts trying to black out, or restrict documents.

Now govt bureaucrats work under several motivations: the desire to do a good job, fear of being punished and laziness.

You basically want to respond fully. You don't know this other guy. But most of all, you know that if you wrongly withhold information, it is now your ass on the line and the penalties for withholding information wrongly are severe. So you bitch and moan, back and forth until your two departments agree on what will be released. That happens when your fear of being caught wrongfully withholding info is overcome by laziness and bureaucratic inertia. At that point a happy medium is reached and some information is released.

<edited/clarity>